Cala Homes - Has anyone got experience with them?

Assimilate62

We bought a Cala house in October 2018, and it has been an utter nightmare.

Unfortunately we fell for all the Marketing blurb that they’re a premier housebuilder. They’re not. There’s an estate over the road from us, of 2000 houses, which is Taylor Wimpey, Barratt and Bovis... and it’s the same trades working on that site as were working here.

We bought a 3 storey house and last winter it was freezing. We had a thermal survey carried out and Cala had forgotten the insulation on the top floor and on the other floors the plasterboard only has dot and dab to the edges instead of a solid seal so cold air was ingressing. We’re still waiting for proof that cavity wall insulation has been installed.

Our drains were blocked from day 1, the kitchen flooded on day 2 as they hadn’t connected the washing machine and dishwasher wastes properly, we’re on our 3rd front door (the first 2 were a lower spec than specified and neither were fitted straight), we’ve had toilets that won’t flush or fill, our dormer roof leaks, the roof at the back of the house isn’t flat because the vent tiles are warped, the flashing on the Velux windows hasn’t been fitted correctly (as confirmed by Velux), sealant missing around shower trays, grout missing on tiles in shower, our house hadn’t been cleaned before we moved in so hard floors were black with dirt and the carpets were stained.

Their customer service is appalling and I would NEVER buy from them again.

We had over 90 snags and all the major ones are still unresolved.

We have neighbours with leaking roofs, drains that don’t drain to the road, blocked toilets... the list goes on.

It’s the biggest financial mistake I’ve ever made 🤬

justjohn

We have looked at about 3 new cala schemes in Scotland.
The build quality looks good. But as with all new builds we have looked at we feel they pack people in like sardines.


Our main issue is the price they are at the top end of the price bracket in comparison to most other properties.(NEW or OLD)


Most of the new builds use SE trades. Hardly any employ there own people.


My tip for new builds is remember what you are looking at is cosmetic. And the build quality underneath may not be what you expect.


btw paying the price cala homes wants I would not expect ANY imperfections. And even in the show home you can sometimes see things that just don't look right.

Sapphire

Don't buy a new build. Buy, say, Victorian or Edwardian. Much more solidly built than new builds. Of course, they require maintenance – any property does. But most of them are well built, and have stood the test of time. How many of today's new builds will still be standing in 100 years' time? Besides, most of them are ugly (to my eyes, anyway).

Skiddaw1

It does vary to be fair.


We moved from a Victorian terrace to a nearly new-build (house is 7 years old) and we're very impressed indeed by how solid, attractive and well-planned out it is. Mind you, the firm that built the houses is a local one (quite active in Cumbria but not beyond) which I think makes a difference. Have to say it is rather wonderful NOT to have to worry about the constant maintenance an older property requires (though we loved the previous house).